. Ben Hardin; his times and contemporaries, with selections from his speeches. pride thrown in, rather than devotion to the man. Mr. Hardinwas no hero worshiper. He was irreconcilably opposed to GeneralJackson and his political measures and methods, and in the long andbitter struggle for mastery in the control of government between thelatter and Mr. Clay, Mr. Hardin would have found it difficult in analyz-ing the motives of his action to determine whether opposition toJackson or support of Clay most animated his efforts. There were, from time to time, departures made by Mr. Clay invirtue of hi
. Ben Hardin; his times and contemporaries, with selections from his speeches. pride thrown in, rather than devotion to the man. Mr. Hardinwas no hero worshiper. He was irreconcilably opposed to GeneralJackson and his political measures and methods, and in the long andbitter struggle for mastery in the control of government between thelatter and Mr. Clay, Mr. Hardin would have found it difficult in analyz-ing the motives of his action to determine whether opposition toJackson or support of Clay most animated his efforts. There were, from time to time, departures made by Mr. Clay invirtue of his unquestionable leadership of his party, of which Mr,Hardin, in common with other reflecting Whigs, doubted the wis-dom. Mr. Clay often acted from willfulness than wisdom, andunnecessarily sacrificed or imperiled the welfare and success of hiscause. This was notably true in respect to his unsparing assaults onthe administration of John Tyler. In Kentucky, however, as well aselsewhere, he had a host of mends who neither demurred to, nor HARDIN AND CLAY CONTRASTED. 349. appealed from, his autocratic fiats. These were true courtiers, fromwhom he heard nothing but what was pleasant. Tiiese stood nearerto him than Mr. Hardin, which the latter always knew. Between these two great Kentuckians there were antagonisms ofcharacter and sentiment that never could be entirely removed or har-monized. The first difficulty was the strong and clearly - markedindividuality of each. Each was an original, and accustomed intel-lectually and morally to stand alone. Both were forcible thinkers,and each thought for himself. Each possessed a powerful will, themainspring of great men. Clay was a born leader, while, if not aleader, Hardin was not the least a follower. In no political systemwould he shine with light bor- ^ ^^ ~rowed from any central sun. II- J -^\Vlustrating this trait, he said he ?^^^rA\had prescribed the rule to himself ^ Wnever to listen to a man speaking l-]. ^on the same side o
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookpublisherlouis, bookyear1887
